Caution with air conditioning, family doctors warn

For several weeks, POZ doctors, as soon as it gets hot, see many patients in their offices with upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat, earaches, but also colds with high temperature. During the interview, it often turns out that they are "saving" themselves from heat - air conditioning. They use it mainly in cars, but also more and more often in offices and homes.
And unfortunately - they do it unskillfully, making a basic mistake.

- It's hot outside - well over 30 degrees, and in a car or indoors - 18 degrees. The body cannot withstand such a difference. Air conditioning and dry air contribute to the cooling and drying of mucous membranes. And hence the shortest path to infection - says Dr. Agata Sławin, family medicine specialist, expert of the Zielona Góra Agreement Federation.

Patients present with a sore throat, hoarseness, increased temperature. Asthmatics are more likely to have attacks of breathlessness. Dry air dries up the mucous membranes, skin, conjunctiva, hence problems with eye watering, pain and swelling. There is "dry eye syndrome", inflammation. Additionally, air conditioning, if not sealed and properly maintained, can harbor fungi and bacteria.

It is not air conditioning that causes health problems, but its improper use.

Doctors remind - the healthiest temperature for the human body is 20-24 degrees. So if we have a heat wave outside and the thermometer bars exceed 35 degrees, we do not cool the rooms or the car below 20 degrees. set so that it blows cold air into the child's face, because then it is hardly surprising that after a few hours a runny nose or a sore throat will appear. Such a thermal shock is difficult for the body, even of an adult human. It weakens immunity and promotes infection.

- When used air conditioning skilfully helps to survive heatwaves, but you have to remember the basic rules. The most important - in a cooled room the temperature should be lower than outside by at most 5-6 degrees. So if we have 30 degrees outside, it may be 24-25 degrees in an air-conditioned room. Not less, because it will only hurt us - advises Dr. Agata Sławin.
The School of Health of the Zielona Góra Agreement. Family medicine specialists from PZ, in accordance with the idea that prevention is better than cure, present in the media in an accessible way the knowledge on various aspects of health, well-being and fitness.
- We want to take a look at ourselves and introduce the necessary changes in habits, because the right lifestyle is the key to health and an important factor influencing what kind of seniors we will later be - says the drug. med. Joanna Zabielska-Cieciuch. - That is why prophylaxis is so important, i.e. activities aimed at maintaining health, preventing or limiting the development of the disease.

Source: Zielona Góra Agreement Federation